Epic MTBO Long Distance in European Championships

A double win for the Czech Republic – Martina Tichovska and Vojtech Ludvik – was a feature of today’s Long race, where conditions were treacherous in Hungary’s hilly karst terrain after long periods of rain.

It was known beforehand that this terrain would prove a strong physical challenge for everybody, with valleys and ridges with steep slopes providing plenty of route choice, inevitably involving long climbs and descents. But the weather made the race into something of a survival exercise; many riders were seen riding with feet on the ground or carrying their bikes across extremely slippery surfaces, and times were long. There were quite a number of retirements. The men’s winner took 7 minutes over 2 hours and the women’s winner almost 2 hours.

Tichovska was the only woman to break the 2-hour mark, and she won by almost 8 minutes from the Russian Olga Shipilova Vinogradova. Antonia Haga, Finland was third. Ludvik’s victory was by 1.54 over the experienced Luca Dallavalle, Italy. Just 1 second slower in bronze medal position came another very experienced rider, Russia’s Ruslan Gritsan.

In the Junior races, Thomas Steinthal, Denmark took his second gold medal in two days. Both were emphatic victories, today’s by almost 9 minutes. A star of the future! France took the women’s gold medal, won by Lou Garcin.

There will be many tired and bruised limbs in the event accommodation tonight, but tomorrow is another race day, the Middle Distance – on more gentle terrain than today’s.